Women living in the Middle East commonly wear clothing that is modest. In some of the more restrictive countries, women are legally required to be fully-covered by an abaya in public. But, in some of the Islamic countries, modest islamic clothing is pretty and trimmed in bright colors.
The Holy Quran is the Islamic religious book. It tells followers to dress in a modest way. The hijab that women wear is a veil, which goes over the head and covers the chest. If visitors are men, it must also be worn inside the home.
The word hijab means veil in Arabic. When it refers to separating men and women in public, it is Al-hijab, which means to separate the world from Allah or God. It is a matter of both privacy and religious conformity in the Muslim world.
In some places, Iran for example it is against the law for a woman to go out in public without wearing the hijab. The chador is a loose cape type garment that has a hemline at the floor level. These are made of thin fabric to allow for more air to circulate and keep one cool.
Even more heavy garments are worn in some countries. Among the Taliban, women must wear a burka. It is a full-length cloak that covers the face as well. The only part of the woman that is visible, is the eyes.
For Muslim men it is suggested they be covered from the naval to the knees. All clothing, for both genders must be loose fitting and modest. In contrast, in Egypt, the hijab is not allowed to be worn in private and state schools. However, more than ten percent continue to wear it. Others wear a headscarf.
There are different ages for girls to start wearing hijab in different countries. The general rule is at puberty. But, an exact age is not stated.
In the 1970s and 1980s, women in Gaza were being urged to start wearing hijab. This is the full covering. Women were coerced into accepting this restrictive dress code. As the government tried to force the change, women who did not conform were harassed.
In one country a woman can be beaten in the street for not being properly dressed. There are actually clothing police patrolling to make certain all women are wearing their burkas. Older women are somewhat fanatic about it.
Not all countries expect the modern abaya to be without ornamentation. Some are trimmed in embroidery and beads, which are quite beautiful. All do cover the woman to the wrist and to the floor. The hijab is covering the head as well.
Women can find an abaya trimmed with sequins and gold. Others may have lace at the hemline. There are some made for special events that are lacy over green or black lining. They can be quite elegant.
One black burqa is shown with gold embroidery from neckline to below the bust and gold trim at the wrist. Another, an abaya, has a green sequined bodice that is somewhat fitted. The various countries and cultures all have their own rules for the dress code for women.
The Holy Quran is the Islamic religious book. It tells followers to dress in a modest way. The hijab that women wear is a veil, which goes over the head and covers the chest. If visitors are men, it must also be worn inside the home.
The word hijab means veil in Arabic. When it refers to separating men and women in public, it is Al-hijab, which means to separate the world from Allah or God. It is a matter of both privacy and religious conformity in the Muslim world.
In some places, Iran for example it is against the law for a woman to go out in public without wearing the hijab. The chador is a loose cape type garment that has a hemline at the floor level. These are made of thin fabric to allow for more air to circulate and keep one cool.
Even more heavy garments are worn in some countries. Among the Taliban, women must wear a burka. It is a full-length cloak that covers the face as well. The only part of the woman that is visible, is the eyes.
For Muslim men it is suggested they be covered from the naval to the knees. All clothing, for both genders must be loose fitting and modest. In contrast, in Egypt, the hijab is not allowed to be worn in private and state schools. However, more than ten percent continue to wear it. Others wear a headscarf.
There are different ages for girls to start wearing hijab in different countries. The general rule is at puberty. But, an exact age is not stated.
In the 1970s and 1980s, women in Gaza were being urged to start wearing hijab. This is the full covering. Women were coerced into accepting this restrictive dress code. As the government tried to force the change, women who did not conform were harassed.
In one country a woman can be beaten in the street for not being properly dressed. There are actually clothing police patrolling to make certain all women are wearing their burkas. Older women are somewhat fanatic about it.
Not all countries expect the modern abaya to be without ornamentation. Some are trimmed in embroidery and beads, which are quite beautiful. All do cover the woman to the wrist and to the floor. The hijab is covering the head as well.
Women can find an abaya trimmed with sequins and gold. Others may have lace at the hemline. There are some made for special events that are lacy over green or black lining. They can be quite elegant.
One black burqa is shown with gold embroidery from neckline to below the bust and gold trim at the wrist. Another, an abaya, has a green sequined bodice that is somewhat fitted. The various countries and cultures all have their own rules for the dress code for women.